Close Enough To Pluck the Stars” (GL) - Chapter 23

Chapter 23

“Does it still hurt?”

Wu Chuchu reached out, intending to touch Liang Ke’s head.

The “Calico Cat” backed away two steps warily. “What are you doing?”

“I came to apologize,” Wu Chuchu said, her eyes filled with a certain loneliness.

Liang Ke thought to herself: Who’s the victim here? Why are you the one looking so sentimental?

“I was impulsive that day, but I didn’t mean to hurt you that badly,” Wu Chuchu continued.

“Yeah,” Liang Ke replied testily. “I was only a tiny bit away from a concussion.”

Wu Chuchu stood her ground apologetically. Liang Ke moved a bit further away and carefully closed the lid of her lunch box. The food was already cold, but she wanted to keep the dust out.

“The anonymous report really had nothing to do with me. I was just angry that you thought so poorly of me.” Wu Chuchu stepped forward to explain: “You didn’t blow the incident out of proportion, and you didn’t use your injury to blackmail me…”

“So you wanted to ask me face-to-face what my ‘ulterior motive’ was, right?” Liang Ke cut to the chase.

“No!”

Wu Chuchu said, “I know you don’t have a motive. Today, I just wanted to express my apology and gratitude. I hope the relationship between us can soften. Professionally and personally, we should be friends.”

“Friends?” Liang Ke looked up suspiciously.

“Yes.”

“You said you hated me last time.” Liang Ke wondered if she was suffering from amnesia.

“I did. But it’s more that I like you,” Wu Chuchu said, looking into Liang Ke’s eyes earnestly.

The Calico’s fur practically stood on end. She stared back, flustered.

“When I first joined the Institute, Professor Zhang’s career was on the rise. He was busy every day and couldn’t look after me. He told me to just find Liang Ke if I needed anything.” Wu Chuchu drifted into memory. “The environment at the Institute back then wasn’t exactly friendly to young people. Yet you were more optimistic than anyone—full of youthful spirit, breaking the ice and moving forward. You inspired and led many people. I was one of them.”

Led by her words, Liang Ke also recalled the past. She couldn’t help but sigh, and her resistance to the conversation faded slightly.

Wu Chuchu continued: “Whether intentional or not, your personality earned you many opportunities. But those included both good chances and hidden bombs. You foolishly accepted them all without caring about your own interests.”

“You’re not entirely right,” Liang Ke interrupted. “I’m not as noble as you say. I just didn’t realize back then that the ‘world’ could be so treacherous.”

Thinking of Boss Xiao’s recent lecture, Liang Ke wanted to laugh helplessly.

“I didn’t want to see you get the short end of the stick. I tried to warn you out of kindness several times, but instead of being grateful, you distanced yourself from me,” Wu Chuchu said, sounding quite wronged.

“…Is that so?” Liang Ke was getting confused. “Wasn’t it you who targeted me over and over again?”

“Targeting you was to help you.”

“Huh?”

“Anyway, I hope you won’t misunderstand my good intentions anymore. Our work connection will be even tighter from now on. A hostile atmosphere will only drag us both down; it’s a waste of energy.”

Liang Ke thought this was a practical point. She hesitated, then said, “I guess you’re right.”

Wu Chuchu bit her lip and remained silent. Sensing the conversation was over, Liang Ke picked up her little lunch box and took her leave.

A large group of colleagues who had finished lunch were heading up to soak in the sun. Liang Ke ran right into them. Just as she was about to raise her hand to wave, a pair of arms circled her from behind. Wu Chuchu wasn’t tall; as she leaned forward, she happened to rest her head on Liang Ke’s shoulder.

This was a warm and slightly intimate gesture that only a very few close friends ever did to Liang Ke. Realizing the person behind her was Wu Chuchu, the Calico’s fur exploded.

The crowd went silent for a solid two seconds. Luo Han’s eyes widened in shock. Ye Tianze, ignoring his usual refined manners, mouthed to Liang Ke: WTF.

…

Back at her desk, Liang Ke was still ruminating. She felt like something was wrong. She wanted someone to discuss this with, but she couldn’t talk to her colleagues. After thinking for a bit, she messaged Xiao Xiaoxiao. The first line was: Daughter, if your mother loses her job, can you take me in?

Xiao Xiaoxiao was likely busy and didn’t reply for half an hour. When she did, her tone was firm: We’re grown-ups now; we shouldn’t continue this mother-daughter bit. What’s up? Are you going to marry my dad?

Liang Ke immediately declined.

Xiaoxiao: Then marry me! drooling face drooling face drooling face

Liang Ke declined again.

Xiaoxiao: Work trouble?

Calico: Yeah. I feel like my ability is lacking. Sooner or later, Dr. Shu is going to torture me to death.

Xiaoxiao: Why would she torture you? [angry] And here I was, respecting her as an elite intellectual with high beauty standards.

Calico: It’s not like she’s doing it on purpose.

Xiaoxiao: Then she’s even more of a beast! angry

Calico: …

Xiaoxiao: Why don’t you quit and work at my company?

Calico: Yes, please! What positions do you have?

Xiaoxiao: Driver.

Calico: Huh?

Xiaoxiao: Driver-slash-cleaner-slash-cook-slash-etc.

Calico: Why is the face of a capitalist always so sinister?

Then Xiaoxiao called. When Liang Ke answered, Xiaoxiao asked: “Too tired for that? I have a relaxed one: ‘Warm-bed trophy wife.’ Want it? No commissions or dividends, but every penny I earn belongs to you, and I belong to you entirely.”

Liang Ke clutched her chest and took several sharp breaths before saying, “Xiaoxiao, you’ve changed. You’re so sleazy—does your family know?”

“Fine, I’ll stop teasing,” Xiao Xiaoxiao pretended to be serious for a moment, comforted her, then couldn’t help adding: “How about you use a ‘honey trap’?”

“What?”

“Use your simple, ignorant little eyes to capture her.”

“Capture who?” Liang Ke didn’t follow.

“Your leader!” Xiao Xiaoxiao said, frustrated. “You have beauty but no self-awareness, and you don’t use it. When you hit a wall, you only solve it in legitimate, morally flawless ways. Are you doing justice to your pretty face? If I were Dr. Shu, I’d torture you every day too.”

“Is this a question of beauty? She’s way prettier than me! But all the questions she asks are technical difficulties from our major. I can’t exactly pursue someone while sweating through my shirt saying ‘I don’t know how to do this,'” Liang Ke said angrily.

“Oh, so you want to pursue her.” Xiao Xiaoxiao caught the key point.

Liang Ke choked, then hung up the phone in a fit of annoyance. She grumbled as she walked back to the work area. Xiao Xiaoxiao was laughing hysterically on her end, jokingly begging her not to hang up, and then casually asked when Zhao Pu’s birthday was.

“Three days before mine,” Liang Ke said, completely unguarded. Then she realized: “Why are you asking? You don’t… you couldn’t… you mean…”

“Just asking. You just focus on being a scientist and then go pursue your scientist. Stay out of other people’s business,” Xiao Xiaoxiao said.

“I hardly qualify as a scientist.”

“Whatever. Work hard. If it really doesn’t work out, big sister will take care of you,” Xiao Xiaoxiao said grandly.

“Fine, it’s a deal.”

…

Liang Ke spent the afternoon reviewing the problems Shu Qingchen had posed. The more she studied, the more desolate she felt. She sat listlessly at her desk, barely speaking. Shu Qingchen was still busy; she passed by Liang Ke’s desk a few times, but her gaze stayed fixed straight ahead, never glancing at Liang Ke once.

Ye Tianze saw from a distance and messaged Liang Ke: Fight?

Liang Ke was confused: With who? What fight?

Wujing (Ye Tianze): I told you to be honest and behave. Stop trying to flirt around; you’ll get in trouble sooner or later, especially with a dangerous office romance.

Liang Ke: ???

Wujing (Ye Tianze): Isn’t it clear enough? You actually made a move on Wu Chuchu. And according to Nao Nao, you have intentions to jump ship because some mysterious rich woman has her eye on you.